Some 50 people were hurt when Israeli helicopter gunships hit two apartment buildings and a security post with rocket fire in Gaza City on Monday, setting them ablaze, hospital officials said.

They were injured by shrapnel or machine-gun bullets in the bombardment, which also targeted two military vehicles, the officials said.

The Israelis brought helicopters and missiles into the battles Sunday after Palestinians, notably members of the security forces, resorted to firearms.

Tanks have also been seen in some areas.

The targeted apartment buildings are near the flashpoint area of Netzarim and had been evacuated on Saturday because of the violence raging in the region.

Witnesses said Israeli helicopters were also shooting on demonstrators near Netzarim after the rocket attack.

Two Palestinians, a 13-year-old boy and a member of the security forces were killed in fighting in Netzarim on Monday. Another Palestinian policemen was killed in Jericho, a town which up until now had escaped the violence.

Another five Arab Israelis died Monday as the violence spread to Israel.

In all 45 people, most of them Palestinians, have been killed since the violence first flared on Thursday over a disputed site in Jerusalem that is holy to both Muslims and Jews.

Meanwhile, one more Israeli Arab died Monday in clashes with the Israeli police in Sakhnin in northern Israel, a hospital official said, bringing the death toll over five days of violence to 45.

Imad Faraj Ghanaim, 25, was hit in the head with a live bullet, official said.

His death brought to six the number of Arab Israelis killed in violent confrontations that spread to Israel on Sunday from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Most of the others killed are Palestinians, including four young boys, along with an Israeli civilian and an Israeli border guard - (AFP)